confused; confusing
1
: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off
The directions she gave confused us.
2
a
: to make indistinct : blur
Stop confusing the issue.
b
: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other
confuse money with comfort
Do not confuse the words "flaunt" and "flout."
c
: to mix indiscriminately : jumble
Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced.—
Thomas Medwin
Thomas Medwin3
: to make embarrassed : abash
4
archaic
: to bring to ruin
Examples of confuse in a Sentence
The general was trying to confuse the enemy.
The new evidence only confused matters further.
You must be confusing me with someone else.
Recent Examples on the Web
The man is Jack Ryan, not to be confused with the Jack Ryan dreamed up by Tom Clancy.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
There are at least eight varieties of Lambrusco grapes (not to be confused with Vitis labrusca of North America), of which the best known, oldest and most abundant is Lambrusco di Sorbara.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
As for advice for others, Breanna wants people navigating confusing health issues to keep advocating for themselves, even when the answers are slow.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 June 2025
Fun fact: Ferdinando de’ Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, as a patron of the arts
Ferdinando de’ Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (not to be confused with his ancestor Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the second Grand Duke of Tuscany), was both a patron of musicians and a talented performer himself.
—Aurora Martínez, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
There are at least eight varieties of Lambrusco grapes (not to be confused with Vitis labrusca of North America), of which the best known, oldest and most abundant is Lambrusco di Sorbara.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
As for advice for others, Breanna wants people navigating confusing health issues to keep advocating for themselves, even when the answers are slow.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 June 2025
Fun fact: Ferdinando de’ Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, as a patron of the arts
Ferdinando de’ Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (not to be confused with his ancestor Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the second Grand Duke of Tuscany), was both a patron of musicians and a talented performer himself.
—Aurora Martínez, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
confuse
verb
con·fuse
kən-ˈfyüz 
confused; confusing
1
a
: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex
the complicated problem confused us
b
: to cause to be embarrassed or upset
2
: to make unclear : blur
stop confusing the issue
3
: to make disordered : jumble
the cords were all confused together
4
: to fail to tell apart
teachers always confused the twins
confusedly
adverb
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
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